Portfolio and Showcase Printing for Creative Graduates: Stapled Brochures and A2 Posters
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There's a university campus at MediaCityUK with more than 1,500 students and staff, according to Salford City Council. Many of them are studying creative subjects. Design. Media. Photography. Film.
And sooner or later, every one of them faces the same moment. The work is done. Now it has to be shown.
That's where portfolio printing comes in. A printed portfolio lets someone hold your work, flip through it and keep it. A poster on a showcase wall stops people in their tracks.
This guide is for creative graduates and design students getting ready for showcases, interviews and portfolio reviews. We'll cover what to print, which sizes to choose and how to plan your order so you're not panicking the night before.
What a portfolio print set includes
You don't need everything. But a good set usually has a mix of these.
- A take-away brochure. A short printed book of your best work that people can keep.
- Display posters. For your showcase wall or space.
- A presentation board. For talking someone through a project in person.
- Business cards. So people can find you after the show.
Start with the edit, not the printing
The biggest mistake we see? Trying to include everything. A portfolio is a highlights reel. Pick your strongest projects, maybe six to ten, and cut the rest. It's hard. It's also what makes a portfolio feel confident.
Stapled brochures for take-away copies
A stapled brochure is a simple, smart way to make a printed portfolio people can take home.
Pick your size
- An A4 stapled brochure gives your work room to shine. Great for visual projects, layouts and photography.
- An A5 stapled brochure is smaller, lighter and easier to slip into a bag. Perfect for handing out at a busy showcase.
Lots of graduates do both. An A4 version for interviews, an A5 version for giving away.
Planning your stapled portfolio brochure
- Page count. Stapled books are made from folded sheets, so the total has to be a multiple of four. Plan your layout around that, or you'll get blank pages.
- Cover. Your name and what you do. Keep it simple and strong.
- Inside. One project per spread works well. A big image, a short line of text.
- Back page. Your contact details, website and social handles.
Check before you send
- Set your file to the right page size.
- Keep text and key parts of images away from the edges and the fold.
- Use your best quality images. Ones that look fine on a phone can look soft in print.
- Proofread. Then get a friend to proofread. Your name spelled wrong on your own portfolio is a bad look.
A2 posters for display
Showcase walls are crowded. A poster helps your space stand out.
- An A2 poster (420 x 594 mm) is big enough to show detail and small enough to fit most showcase spaces. A2 portfolio posters work well in a set of two or three, side by side.
- An A3 poster (297 x 420 mm) is great for smaller spaces or for showing process work alongside a bigger piece.
Making a poster wall work
- Pick one hero image. The piece you want people to remember.
- Use a matching style. Same margins, same fonts, same layout across every poster.
- Add a small label. Your name, the project title and one line about it.
- Check the showcase rules. Ask what you're allowed to fix to walls, and how.
Showcase dates and rules vary, so confirm them with your course team before you plan your order.
Foam board for presenting
If you're presenting a project in person, a rigid board looks smart and keeps your work flat.
- An A1 foam board (594 x 841 mm) is a great size for a key project or a summary of your best work.
- It's light enough to carry and stays flat. It's for indoor use.
- It's printed only, so if you need an easel, check whether one will be there.
Business cards: the small thing that matters
Put a stack of business cards next to your work. Name, what you do, email, website or portfolio link. People who loved your work need a way to find you. Make it easy.
Taking it to an interview
Bring your A4 brochure and maybe one board. Talk through two or three projects in depth, not ten in a rush. Then leave the brochure behind if they'd like it. It keeps your work on their desk after you've gone.
Order timeline
Here's how timing works for graduate showcase print sent to Salford or Manchester.
- Standard UK shipping is 2 to 3 working days of production, then about 2 days for delivery.
- Working days are Monday to Friday.
- Same-day delivery is only for London and inside the M25, so plan for standard shipping.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks before | Edit your work. Pick your best projects. |
| 3 weeks before | Design your brochure, posters and cards. |
| 2 weeks before | Proofread, then place your order. |
| 8 working days before | Latest sensible order date. |
| A few days before | Everything delivered. Check every page and poster. |
A student budget tip
Order everything together, and check the quantity options on each product page. It helps you plan your spend, and it means one delivery instead of several.
Treat these dates as a guide, not a promise. Final-year deadlines pile up fast, so earlier is kinder to yourself.
Show your work at its best
Good portfolio printing turns your projects into something people can hold, keep and remember. And when you're starting out, being remembered is half the battle.
Choose your brochures, posters and cards, upload your files and we'll print and send them to you. Questions? Call us on 020 7701 2515. You can also read more about our document printing in Manchester City Centre, or see our page on document printing in Salford and MediaCityUK.
